Investigators say Bay Street fire was 'intentionally set'

A fire that destroyed a Taunton home on Bay Street last Monday was arson, according to the Massachusetts Fire Marshal’s Office.

A joint investigation by the Taunton Fire Department, the Taunton Police Department and state police assigned to the Fire Marshal’s Office concluded late last week that the fire at 1000 Bay St. was “intentionally set,” said Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.

“The investigation now moves from the origin of cause phase to the criminal phase,” Mieth said.

Asked about potential suspects or circumstances surrounding how the fire was set, Mieth declined to answer any questions.

“Those are the kinds of details in an arson fire the investigators like to keep close to the vest to help evaluate witness statements,” Mieth said. “Fire investigation is a scientific process of eliminating all possible causes until you are left with only one most probable cause. That is the true answer.”

Taunton firefighters were first alerted to the fire in the one-family home at 3:10 a.m., arriving to find a heavily involved fire already underway when they arrived. One man who lived in the house was standing outside, Taunton Deputy Fire Chief Michael Sylvia previously said.

Reached on Sunday, Taunton Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw said that he had no other details to share at this point. Bradshaw said he has not yet received an official report on the fire.

Last Monday, the state Fire Marshal’s Office said the man was not sleeping when the fire broke out. Mieth confirmed that the man was not sleeping, explaining that her agency shares the information to relate it to the use of fire alarms and whether they worked properly.

Heavy machinery was brought in last week to sift through the remains of the home, as part of the investigation. State police also brought accelerant-sniffing dogs to the scene.